Inspired by her exchange experience in Morocco, Elise founded and serves as the president of the Arabic Culture club at her high school, where she shares Arabic language and culture with her classmates.

After studying Arabic in Morocco as a National Security Language Initiative (NSLI-Y) student, Adam Sella gained far more than impressive language skills. While abroad he spent time with fellow NSLI-Y scholars who worked with refugees in their hometowns, and began learning about the growing global refugee crisis.

Leah Goodridge's Gilman Scholarship program helped inspire her focus on vulnerable populations, leading to her establishing a nonprofit organization in the Dominican Republic and working to provide legal help for underserved community members in New York City.